Paint box



Feb. 1, 1938. .v, M. ECKHOFF PAINT BOX Filed Sept. 16, 1957 12 J 3 mm m J 0457 M. Ec/r/wFF 1 z y/ 14 i 34 J Patented Feb. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES ATNT OFFICE PAINT BOX poration cf New Jersey Application September 16, 1937, Serial No. 164,255

4 Claims.

This improvement relates to paint box and like articles.

The present invention relates to improvements in paint boxes and like articles and is more particularly concerned with the conformation and assemblage of parts for providing a painting or like set when the parts are separated, and for enclosing and protecting the elements when the parts are brought into assembled condition.

One of the features of the present invention is the provision of a paint box or like receptacle comprising a plurality of structures having flanges which may be engaged with one another for securing the parts in assembled condition.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a paint box comprising a plurality of structures which may be formed by simple stamping operations and which are so shaped and dimensioned that they interengage with one another during assembly for transportation.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a paint box comprised of a plurality of elements which are of circular shape and each having flanges, the flange of a base section being of stepped section to permit the proper location and engagement of the parts.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for assisting the assembly and disassembly of the parts.

These and other features of the invention will appear in the course of the following specification and claims, and an illustrative form of practicing the invention is shown by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective View, showing the parts employed for forming this illustrative paint box.

Figure 2 is a diametrical section through the elements while assembled together.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the base section which is employed for holding the paint in the illustrated form.

Figure 4 is a corresponding view of the intermediate or mixing section.

In this drawing, the illustrated structure is particularly intended for employment as a water color paint box and provides sections for holding paint cakes, a section having receptacles in which the paint may be mixed and also a receptacle for a brush, and a cover section which can be inverted and used as a water dish.

This illustrated structure is comprised of three sections, which are shown in Fig. l as a base section BS, an intermediate section IS and a cover section CS. Each of these sections has flanges which overlap in the assembled position of the parts. Since it is normal to place the structure on a support with the base section resting on the surface of the support, these flanges will hereinafter be referred to as downwardly extending flanges. Each of the flanges is illustrated as being of circular form about a vertical axis and hence the parts may be formed by simple dies of generally circular outline: and hence the structure may be cheaply made and assembled.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the base section BS is shown as having an upper table portion I ll for receiving a plurality of paint cakes II. It is preferred to form the paint cakes in small individual cups tures have been punched in the table It for re- 2 ceiving eight paint cups, but it is obvious that by changing the number of punches and. rearranging the same, it is possible to employ the same blank for receiving a varied number of color pans, for example, from four to sixteen with U relative sizes of the parts as indicated. The surface of the material is depressed at the periphery of each opening to provide an offset shelf I3 which permits the peripheral flange I211 of the corresponding paint cup to be located substantially flush with the upper portion of the table I6. Likewise, it is preferred to provide a flange I4 at the inner edge of each shelf I3 for frictional engagement with the corresponding paint cup for holding the paint cup against accidental separation from the base section BS.

The base section BS is -provided with a flange of stepped cross-section comprising an upper portion I5 of smaller diameter and a lower portion I6 of larger diameter. The lower portion I6 is joined to the smaller portion by a shoulder I1 and terminates at its lower or free edge in an outturned curl I8 which avoids a raw edge of material and is useful in permitting disassembly of the parts as set out hereinafter. Each of the portions I5, I6 is substantially cylindrical in shape. The lower portion is preferably formed with a plurality of spaced outwardly projecting ribs I9 which are substantially vertical when the tray is resting upon a flat surface. These ribs 55 the curl i 8.

assure the proper frictional engagement of the parts when the assembly has been effected, and also assist in assuring separation of parts in the event of distortion thereof.

The intermediate section IS has a table portion 20 with a cross groove 2| formed therein and extending diametrically thereacross. At either side of this groove 2|, the table portion 20 is depressed to provide mixing receptacles 22 in which the paint may be mixed with water and blended to obtain the desired hue or tint. The receptacle 2| is adapted to receive one or more brushes B. Extending downwardly from the table portion 20 of the intermediate section IS is the integral flange or skirt 23 which terminates at its bottom in a small curl 24. The flange 23 is adapted to frictionally engage and be retained upon the step l5 of the base section BS.

The cover section CS is intended when inverted to be useful as a water dish. It has a closed end portion 30 and a downwardly extending flange which preferably is also of stepped section comprising the smaller diameter 3I, the shoulder 32, and the portion 33 of larger diameter. This latter portion terminates at its free edge in a curl 34 which is preferably of the same diameter as The portion 33 operates by frictional engagement with the portion 1% of the base section, and the ribs I9 thereof, and is of sufficient diameter so that the curl 24 is loose therein 'so that the cover may be detached and removed without separating the intermediate section from the base section. It is preferred to have the depth of the cover section or the axial distance from its closing portion 30 to the plane of the curl 34 such that the wall 30 is spaced from the table portion 20 by such a distance that the brush maybe held in the transverse receptacle 21. The diameter of the smaller step 3| approximates the internal diameter of the larger step H; of the base section, so that the paint boxes may be nested as shown in Fig. 2 in which the lower paint box 46 is shown in dotted lines as nested with the upper paint box'which is shown in full lines and in section in that figure. This reduces the space required for shipping quantities of these paint boxes and also is advantageous as they may be stacked on a store shelf when displayed for sale.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the illustrated form of construction, but that it may be employed in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paint box, comprising a base section having therein receptacles for paint cakes and including a peripheral flange of stepped section, an intermediate section having therein receptacles for mixing paints and for receiving a brush and including a peripheral flange frictionally engageable around an upper step of said base flange, and a flanged cover section for embracing the intermediate section with said cover flange frictionally engageable with a lower step of said base section.

2. A paint box or like receptacle having a base section with a downwardly extending flange, and a second section having a second downwardly extending flange, said base flange having a'plurality of outwardly projecting substantially vertical ribs for frictionally engaging the inner surface of the second flange and effective for permitting easy removal of the second section, the said flanges having thereon means for limiting the sliding movement which is incidental to frictional engagement of the sections together. 3. A circular paint box comprising a base section having a table portion with a plurality, of apertures therein each of which is surrounded by a depression, paint pans frictionally engaged in' the apertures and each having a flange received in the corresponding depression, said basev section also having a downwardly extending flange of stepped section and a bottom curl, an intermediate section having a table portion With depressions therein to form mixing cups and a diametrical groove for receiving a brush, said intermediate section also having a downwardly extending peripheral flange adapted for frictionally engaging a smaller portion of the stepped base flange, and a flanged cover which may be inverted to provide a water dish, the flange of the cover having a bottom curl and being frictionally engageable with a larger portion of the stepped base flange for securing the parts together and with the curls close together, the top of the cover thereby being positioned close to the table portion of the intermediate member, whereby to hold a brush in said groove, said curls being efiective for permitting separation of the cover.

4. A paint box as in claim 3, in which the cover flange is of stepped section and the upper section is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the base flange at its lower end whereby the paint box may be nested with other like boxes.

VIOLET M. ECKHOFF. 

